WesWorld

Siam News

Bangkok:

TRNS: His Majesty's Minister of Industrial affairs announced today that HEBCO representatives were expelled from the Kingdom today for attempting to bribe certain unnamed high government officials with regard to the recent letting of commercial shipbuilding contracts. At the heart of the HEBCO scheme was an attempt to influence the ongoing negotiations between respective governments and private corporations and His Majesty's government at opening a commercial shipyard at Phuket
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Phuket:

TRNS: The Ministry of Justice has opened an investigation into charges of corruption within the Armed Forces. Recent allegations as to the shocking state of the RTNs lack of readiness to defend the nation has prompted this investigation, unnamed sources within the government state.

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Ministry Of War news release:

The RTA, the Siamese Royal Army has issued a request for tender for a new service submachine gun to arm His Majesty's Government police and security troops. The initial order is for trials lots from interested suppliers. All interested parties are asked to submit ten samples for trials and at least enough ammunition to cycle the weapons through the field weapon proof as well as technical experts to demonstrate and maintain the weapons through trials.

Siam News:

Bangkok

TRNS: The Ministry of Defense reports today that it is sending technical missions to Italy, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. No further information was released. The SEP has publicly questioned the sudden expense for this unexpected travel activity and it is expected that Parliament will demand an accounting.

H.

Somewhere in the palace a man reads a summary:

Defense Review: Current Recommendations,

1.Establish a Military Academy.
2.Establish a Naval Academy.
3.Establish a Unified Armed Service.
4.Consolidate, rationalize, and simplify the national military establishment.

Army.

1.Transition from the square divisional system to a brigade model based on the Dutch/Kongolese model.
2.Professionalize and depoliticize the officer corps.
3.Establish an NCO corps.
4.Equipment.
a. replace the current British, French, German and other disparate equipment that has been bought piecemeal with one national standard source of supply-preferably locally obtained as a joint venture with an ally or neutral.
b. develop a national land strategy in conformity with defensive goals and means within the AEGIS Treaty framework

Navy
1.Continue to modernize the fleet.
2.Establish a Naval Academy with Allied assistance.
3.Establish a consolidated naval air force.
4.Establish an east and west fleet command.
5.Equipment
a. continue the current procurement policy.
b. improve the infrastructure as much as is practical.
c. locally produce what we can build.
d. modernize current units.

National strategy

1.Land defense will be based on regular army mobile formations and terrain obstacles. If our territory is overrun, we will resort to irregular warfare in the captured territories until, we regain our lost territories.
2.Naval defense will be based on patrol and reconnaissance in peacetime and cooperation with our AEGIS allies in wartime with particular emphasis on defense of our coastal waters.
3.Air defense is to be consolidated and concentrated around our major bases and population centers. We will for the foreseeable future not have the resources available to defend the entire country from air attack; so we must defend those areas we can.

The king reads the recommendations and strikes through “If our territory is overrun, we will resort to irregular warfare in the captured territories until, we regain our lost territories.”

“Idiots.” he mutters. “Let the popular press get hold of that one in a public document.......the SEP would have a field day.”

H.

Outside BRNO, Czechoslovakia;

BRRRAAAAAAAAT!

Phodun Hin gets up from the rather muddy hole he just lain in. He has in his hands one of the heaviest and most unusual automatic weapons he's ever seen.

Quoted

http://www.2svetovavalka.kvalitne.cz/zb_csr_ZK383_ENG.htm
Country of origin :Czechoslovakia
Cartridge:9 mm x 21mm Parabellum
Type of operation blowback
Type of fire: semi-/full-automatic
Length: 875 mm
Length of barrel: 325 mm
Weight of loaded gun: 4,830 kg
Weight of unloaded gun: 4,250 kg
Magazine capacity :30 cartridges
Weight of loaded magazine: 0,580 kg
Number of lands and grooves: 6
Rate of fire 500 and 700 rounds/min
App.muzzle velocity 365 m/s

“Why the bi-pod, and the quick change barrel?” he asks?
“After the allied storm troops took a position, the Germans always violently counterattacked.” answered the Czech expert. “You had to emplace something immediately to stop them. This is something that you can carry as a trench clearer and then set up in seconds to defend what you took. A bi-pod helps defensive accuracy, the quick change barrel keeps it in action.”

Phodun points out a couple of things. “Its hard to see how the wooden furniture in this stock, will stand up to tropical conditions, and your typical Siamese soldier will find it heavy, very heavy. Another thing I noticed, its typically German. Very complex and expensive to make. About the only thing it has going for it, is that its almost unbreakable, and that the ammunition is common with what we already use in some of our current pistol stocks. Can you design one that will have all metal stocks and take the Bergmann 9 mm cartridge?'

“And can you license it to us to manufacture locally?”

Taken aback, the Czech replies: “Yes, probably, and that depends on our governments.”

Phodun answers; “Let me be honest. I like the other two machine guns you showed me, and the 8 cm. mortar, but your battle rifle and this submachine gun are not ideal for us. We need something for close quarters fighting in swamp, jungle, rice field, mountain, and plains. Siam is not Europe."
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Near Budapest, Hungary:

Chunum Kunan undergoes much the same experience as Pho Dun Hin though he is firing his weapon from the kneeling position in a similar muddy hole.

Quoted

http://www.sunblest.net/gun/Danu39.htm
Made by Danuvia Gepgyar, Budapest, 1939-43
Quantity: approx. 11,000 (not all sources agree)
Caliber: 39.M 9x25mm Mauser.
Delayed blowback, selective fire
Muzzle velocity 425-463 m/sec,
Cyclic rate: 730-750 rpm
40-round staggered row foldable/detachable box magazine
Length :1046mm [41.2"] overall, 500mm [19.68"] barrel
Weight 3.7kg [8.2 lbs], 4.15kg with loaded mag
Tangent ramp type rear sight graduated 50-600 meters

“It has three things we want,” he says: “Its durable, easy to maintain, and we can manufacture it locally.” He adds: “It also is good enough to serve as a carbine. But the ammunition......9x25 Mauser? We don't really use that type cartridge in our equipment. I have to think about our supply situation.”

The Hungarian doesn't mince words. “You want a automatic self-loader that can serve you in close combat in heavily forested wet conditions...”

Chunnum sayss mildly: “Its called a jungle.”

The Hungarian replies: “Jungle then. This is the best weapon we can offer you that matches your rather exacting technical specifications. We can license production to you, if you need it, but seriously, who are you going to get to manufacture it?"

“Madsen, in Bangkok”, says Chunum.

“The Danes make Bergmans” says the Hungarian.

“They can make anything, if we ask them.” replies Chunum. Of course if Hungary wishes to open a Danuvia factory in Bangkok?"
------------------------------------------------

One Night in Bangkok

Admiral Sprian looks at the latest sit-rep cables from the overseas technical missions.

"it looks like our Dutch and Danish allies, the Belgians, the South Africans, and Czechs are trying to meet our varied specifications. I'd just like to know where His Majesty is going to get the bahts [pronounced buys] to pay for this shopping spree."

"Its not so much," says Pakhun Rho, his chief of staff. "we aren't trying to rebuild at one go-just modernize a little here or there."

Admiral Sprian reads aloud " 'Model 39 Danuvia SMG': unit price demanded 2500 US dollars. That is more than 83,000 bayt each!, For that, we can buy almost 20 war surplus Mausers on the black market including the ammunition."

The staff officer grimaces; "Then we are buying elsewhere? Phodun Hin likes that weapon for our needs."

Sprian grimaces: "He doesn't have to pay for it. I'm going to recommend either the Czechs, or our Danish allies as the source contracts. Its really the army that should decide this."

"Pibun Songkhram and the SEP play games. The King doesn't trust the Army right now. So to keep everything away from Parliament and the Ministry of Justice, the Navy decides....we really should try to get the Danuvia." Pakhun states.

"No. We go with the Danish MP-32s, and try to license the Czech model as well, chambered for the Bergman 9mm." declares Sprian.

"No question about the rest of the report though?" asks Pakhun.

"Beetles and birds later and hard talks with the Dutch and South Africans for now. What's the latest on the Narden?" says Sprian......

Outside of BRNO:

BANG!
Phoduh Hin watches the gun drills with interest:
BAROOM!

The howitzer and the field gun sound radically different. That surprises him,.
He is an infantry specialist, not really an artilleryman, so he pays very careful attention as the Czech Skoda expert talks. Too much is riding on this demonstration to do otherwise...

Quoted

Specification
76.5-mm vz 30
Calibre: 76.5 mm (3.01 in)
Length of piece: 3.606 m (120.47 in)
Weight: traveling 2977 kg (6,564 lb) and in action 1816 kg (4,004 lb)
Elevation:-8° to+80°
Traverse: 8°
Muzzle velocity: 600 m ( 1,968 ft) per second
Range: 13505 m (14,770 yards)
Shell weight: 8 kg (17.64 lb)

BANG!
“Eighty degrees elevation?” asked Phodun.
“It was an antiaircraft feature, that didn't work.” answered the Skoda man. "Both the howitzer and the gun share that feature.”

Quoted

Specification
100-mm vz 30
Calibre: 100 mm (3.93 in)
Length of piece: 2.5 m (98.4 in)
Weight: traveling 3077 kg (6,785 lb) and in action 1766 kg (3,894 lb)
Elevation:-8° to+80°
Traverse: 8°
Muzzle velocity: 430m (l,410ft) per second
Range: 16000 m (17,500 yards)
Shell weight: 16 kg (35.28 lb)

Phodun reflects on his orders from Admiral Sprian:. 'Commit to nothing, without higher authority approval, Keep it simple as our logistics base is poor. And remember that we are a poor nation. Buy effective, when you can, but buy CHEAP.'
These guns are not cheap, but they are effective, they shared a common carriage and there is a wedge he's willing to try........
“How would Skoda like to break into the East Asian Market?” Phodun asks quietly.
For the first time in his life, Phodun sees a man actually perk his ears up like a dog.
The Skoda man is now the one paying close attention. “What do you have in mind. Technology share?”
“Factory.” said Phodun. You build the guns in Siam. We offer favorable trade concessions and subsidies so that you can compete in region with those cheap Japanese knockoffs.
“What about your Danish patrons?' asks the Skoda man.
“Denmark needs low cost, high quality artillery too. Siamese labor is cheap and Skoda guns are excellent, a good combination for you.” snaps Phodun. “Now about the traverse feature. Can you modify the mount to have a firing table foot under it, that will allow the gun to speed turn in traverse 360 degrees?”
“The 1928 pattern carriage had that feature. The 1930 pattern is easy to adapt.” from the Skoda man.
“Then we have a deal. Now it only remains for us to tell our respective governments; so that they can pretend to make it themselves.........” Phodun says confidently.
_______________________

In Bangkok:
Adniral Sprian roars; “He did WHAT!?!?!?!?!”
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Outside Budapest:

Chunan Kunan laboriously decodes the jumbled encrypted telegram. It is three layers deep and is in an obscure Thai dialect, so it takes much time. He reads it. His face drains white. He's ordered to find an artillery prime mover that can tow a four tonne field cannon? Where? With what? He's not an automotive expert.

"Either to Poland to look at their C7P or to Czechoslovakia to look at their CKD Praga IV prototypes." mutters Chunan, as he reads the suggestions.

"Oh, and by the way, arrest Phodun Hin." Chunan talks to himself a lot recently, ever since the acrimonious talks over the Danuvia submachine gun became protracted, confused, and circular. The Hungarians think he is crazy.
_______________________

Outside Nakhom Pathom, the RTA's newly opened proving ground:

“Well, Madsen said they could upgrade the field carriages on our Model 1901s and 1916s. It helps that the Germans overbuild everything they design, doesn't it?” Pibun Songkhram smiles. The tests with the Carden Loyds as gun tractors go well.
Rathma Chyran, his SEP advisor, and toady asks: “Why do you spend your time out here, when its in Bangkok where your attention should be?”
Songhram answers: “There is no kingdom to govern; if there is no kingdom to defend. Besides I need the Army. Part of that allegiance is giving the generals new toys with which to play to keep them happy.”
Chyran, not mollified: “You and the king, vying for the generals, will bankrupt us.”
Pibun, with contempt: “The king appointed that fool, Sprian, to oversee our modernization. He's an old woman who will spend little on the Army and less on anyone else. Besides, as you can see, I'm cautious with the bayt. Fresh coat of paint, new uniforms, a few changes in our gear to impress the generals, and the army will be there with me, when I replace the usurper with our rightful king.”
“Just remember to keep your promises upon land reform you gave me, so that the SEP, and the people will be with you too, Pibun.” says Chyran.

Bangkok:

TRNS: The Ministry of Air Transport today announced that Bangkok Aircraft Manufacturers:LTD and Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation have signed a joint venture agreement for the development and production of a twin engine seaplane. News of the surprise announcement comes shortly upon the rumors of government negotiations with both Denmark and Czechoslovakia concerning further joint industrial ventures. An SEP spokesman denounces this latest news as another example of His Majesty's Government "selling the hard working Siamese people into foreign corporate wage slavery". His Majesty's government spokesman Oathin Bayoi issued this statement in rebuttal: "His Majesty's Government fails to see how the SEP can accuse the government of enslaving the Thai people, who work in a Thai people owned corporation, building a Thai aircraft for Siam much less having them enslaved to foreign interests? Perhaps if the SEP were more interested in developing the country's economy than in developing their political fantasies, current tensions would ease?"

M rustles through some papers. He worries about the growing crisis within the Army between the Somghram and the Royallist factions. The SEP continues to howl in the popular press about Anuwatjaturong' modernization policies. Reports from Indochina from his agents indicate something catastrophic is brewing in that area, but his agents don't tell him what.

He could use some good news.

His secretary comes in: "Chunan Kunan arrested Phodun Hin on Admiral Sprian's orders."

M just stares for a moment at the opposite wall at a portrait of a Thai Rose.

"Arrange a meeting with the king and Admiral Sprian." he snaps. "I will not have one of my agents arrested for using initiative, no matter what the military thinks about their "chain of command".

The secretary continues: "His Majesty acceded to the deal, though. The diplomats work on the language now."

M waits for the rest of it. His secretary knows not to keep him waiting, whether good or bad, he demands information now.

"Avrit Singham sent this by courier." the secretary hands over a message flimsy across the desk.

M reads: 'Test result at 5 kilometers. CEP 500R 25%. Unit failures 57%-entirely due to hand-build QC factors. Well within bench test predictions. Considered field proof of concept success-need money for operational design for 10 km test. Pending operational proof success; BAM expects first production model proofing 1Q1937.'

M has his good news at last.
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Bangkok:

TRNS News: The Ministry of Economic Development announces today that a tentative agreement between Czzechoslovakia and Siam is in the process of finalization.

Bangkkok Bungle: Business Section: Legal Notice, 'The Parliament Committee on Licenses and Trades Grants formally announces the granting of a license right to manufacture to a Corporation hereby named as Thai Heavy Industries:AG; a common shares owned subdivision of Skoda Armaments within the Kingdom.'
_______________________________

Fleet Command, Bangkok:

Sprian reads this news over his grapefruit breakfast. His sour stomach receives more acidic bile to reject. The King refuses to back him over the Phodun Hin matter, and now this nonsense. Pibun grows stronger by the day and the White Mice continue to meddle in affairs they don't understand. Between Pibun and the White Mice, Raman figures his survival odds have just dropped well below fifty percent. Elephant or bullet to the back of the head......which will it be?

Bangkok:

TRNS: In a shocker today the Ministry of Air Transport announced that Royal Thai Airlines and Australian Trans Pacific Airways have signed a joint venture agreement for the development and production of a fleet of passenger/mail airships. News of the announcement comes shortly upon the confirmation of government negotiations with Czechoslovakia to establish a Skoda Armaments subsidiary at Surat Thani to be known as Thai Heavy Industries.

Royal Thai Airlines Amalgamated Press release:

A consortium, consisting of Bangkok Aircraft Manufacturing:LTD, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, and Australian Aircraft Corporation, is expected to develop and build a new series of White Crane Class airships for both Siam and Australia. Intial plans are to purchase two such airships for the RTAA and two additional for ATPA-for Siam the initial one is to be built in Australia, and the second is to be built in a new BAM airship facility to be built at Nakhon Ratchisma with Australian assistance.
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Projected White Crane Class: [Two on order for Siam]



Bangkok:
___________________

"What the !@#$ is going on?" asks M.
___________________

Rathma Chyran is just speechless with rage. "The king must have done this! Nobody else would dare!"

"Be quiet." says Pibun Sonhgram. "I need to make some calls, and then I need to think about what we do about this."
___________________

Admiral Raman Am Sprian leaves his office with a huge smile on his face. Naval personnel who stop and salute him as he makes his way outside Fleet Command, notice he has a spring in his step that they haven't noticed before.
___________________

Somewhere in the Palace:

An Australian Foreign Office ambassador and King Anuwatjaturong toast each other. "To better commercial relations between us." suggests the Australian.

"Yes." says the King. "Its better to trade than to fight, don't you think?"

"If more leaders thought the way you do, Your Majesty, this would be a much better world." The Australian smiles. He, a typical foreign office flack, believes firmly in a policy of cross cultural exchanges and international economic trade.

Stay tuned.

Outside Phuket:

First man unpacks the wooden case: "Beautiful!"

Second man sorts through the case and picks up a huge stripper clip of over-sized bullets. "Brass and steel. I bet that one kicks like a water buffalo. Can you handle it?"

First man: "Unfamiliar gun, but the Czechs design well. I trust the muzzle brake. I used Polish rifles in Lithuania. With practice I can handle this one."

Second man. "Not too much practice. I see only a hundred rounds here."

First man looks at the twenty odd stripper clips "Fifty rounds would be more than enough. I think I'll keep this one for myself when this job is over."

The two men repack the rifle and the ammunition into the wooden case and then they load it into their canvas covered truck. They drive north.

Stay tuned.

H.

Quoted

Originally posted by HoOmAn

Quoted

Originally posted by howard
Projected White Crane Class: [Two on order for Siam]

Are you sure about that? Two OTL Hindenburg-sized airships for Siam?

Beg your pardon but isn´t all that a bit much?

I understand your enthusiasm. I welcome it. But Siam is a a really small power - how are they going to fund all that?

Even if we have not real system to handle economics - WesWorld never was design for that - there is some idea that players try to keep things realistic.

I may sound as if I repeat myself for I don´t know how many times but there seems to be a lesson all new players need to learn: Keep things simple, make reasonable decisions and keep an eye on what is realistic for a power the size you control. You don´t need to do it all at once. There is plenty of playing time. So keep some things for later and do not push things too much by starting too many projects on parallel.

Thanks....

How about if Australia just picks up the majority of the financing; or if I get outside power financing for the two airships for the airline? It is after all part of the commercial agreements I've negotiated.

H.